Mediterranean Region

Every year World Wetlands Day is celebrated on 2 February, marking the day of the adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, 41 years ago in the Iranian city of Ramsar. This year the theme of World Wetlands Day is ‘Wetland Tourism, A Great Experience’. …

IUCN’s Director General joined United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi this week to outline his Sustainable Energy for All initiative to the media. …

IUCN welcomes a new NGO member in South Eastern Europe: Preservation and Protection of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA). Its membership application was approved during the 77th Meeting of IUCN Council. …

Five European conservation organisations started the 2011-14 LANDLIFE, a LIFE+ Information and Communication project to spread the knowledge of land stewardship, and its use for involving citizens, landowners and users, NGOs and local groups in nature conservation in Europe. …

The critical role of coastal ecosystem management in curbing climate change and the need to fully integrate it in climate change and biodiversity policies were the focus of the “Blue Carbon – Managing coastal ecosystems for climate change mitigation” symposium that took place in the European Parliament in Brussels yesterday. …

“Islands and overseas entities' strategic location and unique assets offer leadership opportunities for the European Union (EU) and its Member States in biodiversity conservation, climate change adaption, green economy, renewable energy and marine conservation,” argued Dominique Benzaken, IUCN at the conference on Islands and Overseas Entities’ Contribution to Biodiversity Conservation and the Fight Against Climate Change. The event took place yesterday at the European Parliament. …

Are you eager to be engaged in shaping an Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and defining its goals? Do you want to bring your knowledge and experience to the attention of governments and other decision makers? Here is your chance. The Stakeholder Forum on IPBES is a new email discussion group for everyone interested in advancing the involvement of scientists, conservation organizations, businesses and other civil society actors in IPBES. … | French | Spanish